Media

Media

EARMILK - LOS ANGELES, CA

The five man band known as Carly and the Universe are back with a new visual release simply titled "Listen". The band made up of lead singer Carly Liza, guitarist Mike Post, bassist Freddy Hernandez, drummer Cameron Clark and keyboardist Artur Zakiyan have been delivering their unique, somewhat offbeat brand of soul infused pop songs for a minute now. Their first release was the 11 track 'The Whole Shebang' LP which ushered in the band's signature blend of a myriad of genres with a touch of that vintage sound.

Their new release "Listen" which is the 3rd single off the band's upcoming sophomore album 'A Greater Thing' is a catchy pop number that is also super groovy. In the video we get sucked into the smooth, lush song with an entertaining premise. The song which dwells on taking responsibility in a relationship has a quite different visual representation. Carly's voice seems to be travelling from one band member to the other and we the viewers are left wondering as to what exactly is going on. It's pretty simple and fun to watch.

The new album is due out March 30th, 2018.

Vanyaland - Boston, MA

By: Victoria Wasylak

To make art is to make sacrifices, and for Los Angeles troopers Carly And The Universe, it means piling thick goop on your chest until your dress straps bust, all for the sake of a killer music video. And singer Carly Liza takes it like a damn champ.

Today the group dropped the music video for “Black & Blue,” their latest release from forthcoming album A Greater Thing, and the video spares us few details on their creative process.

Drenched head to torso in red slime, and later in a galaxy-like bath of murky black water, Liza visually and vocally unravels the heaviness of the tune in an experimental jazz-blues fusion (and the thought of the off-camera dress casualty just hits home how cumbersome that sludge really was).

“We just wanted to paint a picture to our audience that this release is more of build-up type of song, as opposed to some of the more heavy-hitting tunes we have on the album,” Liza says. “There isn’t much of a direct story with the song lyrically, but it’s the first song we finished writing for the album.”

The shift in genres presents a slight detour for the band’s usual pop repertoire, but the track’s noir undertones are deliberate; Carly And The Universe carved out the song as more of an eerie outlier in their catalogue.

“‘Black & Blue’ definitely isn’t much like the rest of the album, but it is an eerie style that we do like to write in and embody somewhere on each album that we do,” Liza adds. “The album is pretty varied in terms of styles, with this one sort of standing on its own.”

BUZZBANDS - LOS ANGELES, CA

By: Kevin Bronson

The playful indie-soul on Carly and the Universe’s debut album “The Whole Shabang” is so endearing that we’re almost forgiving them for not consulting a dictionary for the proper spelling of “shebang.” Almost. The band is comprised of Carly Liza along with George Fry, Cameron Clarke and Young Creatures’ Mike Post and Spencer King, but it is the singer’s cherubic voice that’s at the center of the whole shebang. While her players keep things tasteful, she waxes open-hearted about the ones that got away, the one she’s hanging on to, and how it feels to be a “Love Savant” — someone who, finding it impossible to act nonchalant, is always “bending over backwards / for this fallacy.”

http://www.buzzbands.la/2015/01/08/ears-wide-open-carly-universe/

Free bike valet - Los angeles, CA

By: Dan Frasier

Carly and The Universe is a sweet soul-pop outfit fronted by the Redondo Beach chanteuse Carly Liza. The powerhouse ensemble (which includes Spencer King and Mike Post of Young Creatures) lays down their sound nice and smooth while Liza exudes a very sultry presence. Their debut full-length, The Whole Shabang, will be released on November 1st but for now enjoy their latest single “Open Heart"

Lady Indie Blog - Montreal, Canada

By: Katie Sevigny

Carly and The Universe are an LA band who’d love to share their brand new album “The Whole Shabang” with you! They call themselves old school soul with a contemporary R&B vibe. We love Carly Liza’s laid back voice; this is such easy listening!

http://www.ladyindie.com/2014/11/carly-universe-album-premiere/

South Bay Magazine - Manhattan Beach, CA

By: Carly Liza

It all starts with a massive thirst for new ideas. Then comes the unrelenting willingness to create and accomplish these ideas. When a work is finished, the sense of accomplishment drives the passion forward, and the cycle is repeated.

For me, this is what makes making music fun. As a singer, songwriter and painter, creativity is always on my mind. I might get ideas from the way I am feeling a certain day, or a conversation I have might drive me to write a story from someone else’s perspective.

These days, I’m focusing on playing in a soul/pop band called Carly and The Universe. It has taken more than two years from initial writing to the release of the album—but well worth it for the feeling of receiving the first few copies of The Whole Shabang in the mail. Not to mention the exhilaration of hearing my song ideas turned into an awesome finished product.

Over those two years, we recorded demos upon demos and rehearsed every week with the band. We recorded the album at various Los Angeles studios over a six-month period until we were sick of the songs and ready to perform.

Then I put together an album release show at a cool venue in Los Angeles with two other bands, food trucks and a gallery installation with my artwork. I’ve learned to roll with the punches when Murphy’s Law squeezes its little nose into my business, as it so often does.

I enjoy creating music and singing so much that I don’t find the hardships of the industry discouraging. All the time, money and effort I put into my craft is worth it.

The industry has been changing with the advent of the internet and the rise of streaming services. This revolution should be embraced with omnipresence, by using social media and local concert shows as ways to network and make new music.

The best way for any artist to stay creative is to expand their artistic mediums, although this doesn’t mean everything an artist tries will fit. Being an artist is creating. Exploring other creative outlets outside of music helps feed my inspiration, which eventually finds its way back around to help me write music.

Above all, it takes passion and drive in any dreams you have to turn them into a reality. I always have a desire to better myself as a person and as an artist.

I am so honored and proud to have my voice. My goal is to be able to travel with my music and share my passion with the world. Hopefully the rest of the world has something to share with me too.